Portland Trailblazers AT Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM EST
Opening Line: Port -6.5
Current Line: Port -6.5
Opening Total: 194.5
Current Total: 195.5
Opening Moneyline: Por -250 / Cle +210
Current Moneyline: Por -280 / Cle +230
There really isn’t a way to describe just how bad the Cavaliers have been. They are in fact on the verge of being record setting bad as they can set the record for most consecutive losses in a single season tonight at 24 straight. Just think, this time last year, they were thinking about playoff seedings and possible first round matchups. Now they won’t even sniff the playoffs. Forward J.J. Hickson is taking a diplomatic approach to the whole matter. “They say you can’t win ‘em all, but in the same light, you can’t lose ‘em all either,” said Hickson “If we stay (focused), I think we can get a couple of wins before the season’s over.”
“A couple of wins?” It may not be overwhelming optimism, but Hickson and the Cavs should be able to win a few more games than last year’s New Jersey Nets, though there is no guarantee. This is what happens when you remove a star player and leave the shell of role players behind to play by themselves.
Some betting trends:
Portland is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games and 6-16 SU in their last 22 road games. They are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games against the Cavs adn the total hasg one OVER in 4 of their last 5 games against Cleveland. Portland is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Cleveland and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games against the Cavs. The total has gone OVER In 5 of Portland’s last 6 road games in Cleveland and they are 0-5 SU in their last 5 road games in Cleveland.
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games and the total has gone OVER in 6 of the last 7 home games. Cleveland is 0-5 SU in their last 5 at home and 1-8 ATS in their last 9 at home. Cleveland is 5-0 SU in their last 5 against Portland and the total has gone OVER in 5 of the last 6 home games against the Blazers. Cleveland is 5-0 SU in their last 5 home games against Portland.
Key Matchups:
LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Antawn Jamison
After a slow start to the year, Jamison has rounded into form and is playing good basketball despite getting little help from his teammates. Jamison has scored 20 or more in 12 of the last 17 Cavalier games and is averaging 17.2 points on the season. It’s still a far cry from his years in Washington, and Jamison has already hinted that this may be his last season. Aldridge is on the other end of the spectrum as an emerging young threat. He seemed to know before hand that he wasn’t going to make the All-Star team despite putting up “all star numbers.” Aldridge is averaging a career high 21.2 points per game and a career high 9.1 rebounds per game while also blocking a career high 1.3 shots a game. He’s single handedly keeping the Blazers relevant in the wake of injuries to Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby. While the Blazers may not be quite the emerging team that people thought they were, it’s not due to Aldridge’s play.
Andre Miller vs. Ramon Sessions
Sessions has been a bit of a bright spot for the Cavs this year. In 24 minutes a game he is putting up 11.5 points per game and 4.9 assists per game and has filled in well in the absense of Mo Williams, who is nursing a hip injury. Sessions, like Miller, is a bigger guard capable of posting up smaller players. That advantage for each player will be nuetralized tonight and indeed this matchup may end up being a wash. It’s Cleveland’s bench that will blow the game.
Truly, I don’t think this game will be as close as NBA oddsmakers have set the line. The Cavs are hapless and Portland – in particular LaMarcus Aldridge – is playing good basketball.
